Judge to Let Blagojevich Jurors Review Transcript

By

Douglas Belkin

Updated Aug. 17, 2010 12:01 a.m. ET

CHICAGO—Jurors in Rod Blagojevich's corruption trial requested a transcript of testimony from one of the former Illinois governor's aides on Monday, indicating they may be addressing some charges after indicating last week they were stuck on most of the counts.

The jurors said last Thursday that they had reached agreement on two counts but were deadlocked on others and hadn't even taken votes on some. Judge James Zagel asked them to resume deliberations and at least vote on all 28 charges brought against Mr. Blagojevich and his brother, Rob, his former campaign-finance director.

The two have pleaded not guilty to charges including conspiring to benefit from Mr. Blagojevich's office.

On Monday, jurors asked for the testimony of former Deputy Gov. Bradley Tusk, who testified that Mr. Blagojevich planned to hold up a $2 million grant to a school in then-U.S. Rep. Rahm Emanuel's district until the congressman's Hollywood-agent brother held a fund-raiser for him.

Mr. Tusk said he ignored Mr. Blagojevich's order to deliver the message to Mr. Emanuel, saying he thought the plan was "both illegal and unethical.'' Mr. Emanuel is now President Barack Obama's chief of staff.

The alleged extortion attempt is relevant to two of the 24 counts that the former governor faces.

At the outset of deliberation the jury asked for a transcript of the testimony from the entire trial, but the request was denied by Judge Zagel. Monday's request, which came on the 13th day of deliberations, was the first time jurors asked for a transcript of testimony by a specific witness.

The former governor wasn't in court Monday, but his attorney objected to the request on his behalf. After a one-hour recess, Judge Zagel said he would provide the transcript and instruct the jury that they should use their own discretion to determine how much weight to give it.

The "transcript alone may not be the whole basis of your assessment," he said.

Mr. Blagojevich, a Democrat who was impeached and removed from office last year, is accused of trying to profit from the sale of the U.S. Senate seat vacated by President Barack Obama, among other things.

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